BNG card or your own bank account

Opening a bank account

More and more Dutch banks are making it easier for refugees from Ukraine to open their own bank accounts. Once you have managed to open your own bank account, you can manage your own banking affairs.

If you need to legalise documents from Ukraine for use in the Netherlands in order to open a bank account, please visit the following website for more information: The Netherlands Worldwide.

Are you unable to open your own bank account? If so, you can apply for a BNG card from Apeldoorn City Council. As soon as you are able to open a bank account yourself, you can cancel your BNG card via leefgeld@apeldoorn.nl.

How the BNG card works

The BNG card is issued by the municipality of Apeldoorn. You can use your BNG card to make debit card payments and withdraw cash. You cannot make bank transfers with this card. It is not a bank account number. However, you can check your balance and view your transactions. To do this, go to prepaidsaldo.com. Log in using your customer number and security code. These can be found at the bottom of your card. Do you have any bills to pay? At the weekly Meet & Greet, there is always someone on hand who can help arrange for the local authority to pay your bills and offset them against your income.

Limit

The limit on your BNG card is €2,000. If, for example, the card limit of €2,000 is exceeded due to a deposit of living expenses or a salary payment from your employer, you will no longer be able to use your card. It is important that you contact leefgeld@apeldoorn.nl immediately. We will then transfer an amount from your BNG card and set it aside for you, so that the balance on your BNG card does not exceed €2,000. You will then be able to use your card again. This means you cannot save money on the BNG card. As soon as you are able to open your own bank account, the amount we have set aside for you will be transferred to your own bank account.

Are you going to work?

If you are starting a new job and would like your salary to be paid into your BNG card, please provide the following bank account details:

NL65 BNGH 02851 82773
Payable to the Municipality of Apeldoorn, quoting the reference number you received from us.

Are you moving outside the municipality?

If you are moving out of the municipality of Apeldoorn or the municipality of Epe to another municipality, you will no longer be able to use the BNG card you received from us. The card is linked to the municipality where you live. The municipality of Apeldoorn will continue to pay your living allowance for the month in which you move. From the 1st of the month following your move, your new municipality will pay your living allowance. You can still use your Apeldoorn BNG card for one month to withdraw any remaining balance. After that, the card will expire!

• Please notify your new local authority of your move as soon as possible.
• Apply for a new BNG card.
• Please have any salary paid into the new account.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about using your BNG card, please contact us via the email address leefgeld@apeldoorn.nl.